Sectional meter shut-off and agricultural implement having sectional meter shut-off

ABSTRACT

An assembly for selectively supplying particulate material to an air seeder, an agricultural implement able to selectively supply and dispense particulate material into the ground and a method of selectively dispensing particulate material into the ground are provided. The assembly has at least one supply receptacle for receiving particulate material from a source and a metering roller for supplying the material to an air seeder. The assembly is operative to selectively supply the material to the air seeder and prevent the material from being supplied to the air seeder. The implement can use the assembly to selectively supply particulate material to ground engaging openers where the particulate material will be dispensed into the ground. Particulate material can be selectively supplied to the implement when it is desired to have the particulate material dispensed into the ground and then prevented from being supplied to the implement when it is not desirable.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/615,215 filed Nov. 9, 2009, which is presently pending. U.S.application Ser. No. 12/615,215 is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/037,732, filed Feb. 26, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No.7,690,440 issued Apr. 6, 2010.

The present invention relates generally to the field of air seedingsystems, and more particularly to metered air seeding and/or fertilizingsystems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Air seeders/fertilizer apparatus are commonly used in agriculturaloperations to apply particulate materials including one or more of thefollowing, namely seed, fertilizer and/or innoculants into soil duringthe planting operation. These apparatus are often comprised of a wheeledcart that includes one or more tanks and meters to both hold and meterparticulate materials. The metered particulate material is delivered tothe soil through pneumatic pipes that attach to ground-engaging openerswhich engage soil and permit delivery of particulate material such asseed or fertilizer to furrows which are created in such soil by theground-engaging openers.

Historically, farm sizes have increased and likewise field sizes haveincreased. As Such, the necessary seeding/fertilizing equipment hasbecome larger and more efficient. However, larger equipment proves to bedifficult when attempting to seed/fertilize a smaller piece of landwithin a larger piece of land, or a piece of land with an irregularshape such as a triangle. When seeding, these land irregularities createa significant overlap in the area of soil being seeded and/orfertilized. As a result, the cost expended on seed and fertilizer is inexcess of what is necessary for proper seeding and fertilizing.Additionally, over-fertilization and/or over-seeding of an area causesthe crop to lodge and not ripen at the appropriate time causing harvestproblems and losses in yield. The accumulative effect of the seeding andfertilizing overlapping in small sections over many fields can become avery significant expense to a farmer.

Prior art implements have sought to remedy this situation byimplementing a metering device in the seeder that can apply a specificquantity of seed per linear distance. However, the prior art has notresolved the problem that double seeding can occur when the land seededis too narrow or odd shaped for the seeding device. Further, the priorart has not resolved the problem that even though the meter has beenturned off, ground-engaging openers are still engaging the ground anddestroying the seed bed. This causes the seeded area which is overlappedto be destroyed by the ground-engaging openers resulting in unevengermination causing further problems with a poor crop and an unevenharvest in these areas.

Canadian Patent 2,503,174 provides for a multi-compartment air seedingsystem where each compartment is assigned to a selected air stream basedon the volume or type of seed and fertilizer required for a specificcrop. A metering assembly is provided which comprises a metering house80 for receiving the seed or fertilizer material as well as a meteringroller for metering the material. Metering cells then collect thematerial for seeding. Diverter plates are also provided to move frontand backwards to open and close the tops of either the front and rearmaterial cells.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,163 further provides a distribution manifold for anair seeder for dispensing product, Further, it provides by-passed portsand venturi ports, the venturi ports making up the row of ports in whichproduct from the product tank associated with the primary distributionmanifold is to be deposited. The by-pass ports make up the remainder ofrows in the primary distribution manifold. If the venturi ports do notmake up the top row of ports in the primary distribution manifold,product from the associated product tank flows through rows of by-passports until the product encounters a row of venturi ports. Followingentering into the venturi ports, product is carried by the pneumaticdistribution system to the tillage. This device promotes a smooth flowof metered product as well as allowing the operator to adapt thepneumatic distribution system for varying configurations.

Although both of the above prior art devices disclose air seeders thatallow for metered seeding or fertilizing, neither of the above devicesdisclose a device that is both able to selectively obstruct a portion ofthe meter, as well as lift the corresponding ground-engaging openers,thus, preventing double seeding and the destruction of the seed bed.

Consequently, there is a need for an air seeding system that can combinethe closing of part of the meter and lifting the correspondingground-engaging opener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the priorart air seeding systems and devices, by providing a metering assemblycapable of restricting flow to selected ground-engaging members of anagricultural implement used in dispensing material such as seed and/orfertilizer to soil.

In an embodiment, a particulate material metering assembly for receivinga particulate material from an air seeding supply source and supplyingand metering the particulate material to an air seeding apparatus isprovided. The assembly comprises: at least one supply receptacle forreceiving particulate material from the air seeding supply source, thesupply receptacle having an opening for receiving particulate materialfrom the air seeding supply source and a lower portion where particulatematerial is supplied from the at least one supply receptacle to the airseeding apparatus; a metering roller having at least one roll section,the at least one roll section provided in the at least one supplyreceptacle between the opening and the lower portion and rotatable tometer and supply particulate material from the at least one supplyreceptacle; and at least one flow stopping device for selectivelypreventing particulate material from being supplied from the at leastone supply receptacle to the air seeding apparatus.

In another embodiment, an agricultural implement for injectingparticulate material into soil is provided. The agricultural implementtowable behind a vehicle and comprises: an air seeding supply source forsupplying particulate material; a central frame; a plurality of elongatepivotable mounting arms, pivotably mounted at a proximal end thereof tosaid central frame, each adapted to be moved from a raised transportposition to a lowered operating position, arranged in juxtaposedposition and all aligned substantially parallel to each other along alongitudinal axis of said implement and in an intended direction oftravel of said implement; ground engaging openers, mounted on each ofsaid mounting arms intermediate a distal and said proximal end thereof,to engage soil when each of said mounting arms is in the operatingposition; material dispensing devices on each of said mounting arms,proximate the openers, for dispensing the particulate material into thesoil; and a particulate material metering assembly operative toselectively supply and meter the particulate material from the supplysource to the material dispensing devices on each of the mounting arms.

In another embodiment a method for selectively supplying particulatematerial to an air seeding apparatus for dispensing the particulatematerial in soil is provided. The method comprises: feeding particulatematerial from an air seeder supply source to a particulate materialmetering assembly; supplying and metering the particulate material fromthe air seeding supply source to the air seeding apparatus using themetering assembly; stopping the metering assembly from supplyingparticulate material to the air seeding apparatus when the air seedingapparatus is traveling over ground where it is undesirable to dispenseparticulate material; and after the metering assembly has been stoppedfrom supplying particulate material to the air seeding apparatus andwhen the air seeding apparatus is again traveling over ground where itis desired to dispense particulate material, using the metering deviceto supply particulate material to the air seeding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicatesimilar parts throughout the several views, several aspects of thepresent invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way oflimitation, in detail in the figures, wherein:

FIG. 1. is a front view of a metering assembly as per one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2. is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the metering assembly ofFIG. 1, taken along line B-B of FIG. 1, showing the shut-off gates inthe closed position;

FIG. 3. is a front view of a metering assembly of the present invention,similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4. is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the metering assembly ofFIG. 3, taken along line B-B thereof, showing the shut-off gates in theopen position;

FIG. 5. is a bottom perspective view of the metering assembly of thepresent invention, including the individual shut-off gates in both openand closed positions;

FIG. 6. is a top perspective view of the metering assembly of thepresent invention, including the individual shut-off gates in both openand closed positions;

FIG. 7. is a front view of the metering assembly of the presentinvention, showing gates in both opened and closed positions;

FIG. 8. is a side view of the air seeding apparatus of the presentinvention which supports a fertilizer tank and a seed tank showing thelocation of installation of the metering assembly;

FIG. 9. is a top plan view of an air seeding apparatus of the presentinvention depicting distribution lines that are open to the flow offertilizer from the metering assembly;

FIG. 10. is a front view of an air seeding apparatus of the presentinvention depicting the soil openers in the lowered position;

FIG. 11. is a top plan view of an air seeding apparatus of the presentinvention, depicting distribution lines that are either open (white) orshut-off (black) to the flow of fertilizer and seed from the meteringassembly;

FIG. 12. is a front plan view of an air seeding apparatus depicting thesoil openers in both lowered and raised positions;

FIG. 13, is a cross-sectional side view of the agricultural implement ofthe present invention, showing the soil openers in the lowered positionand pivotally mounted to a conventional frame;

FIG. 14. is a cross-sectional side view of the agricultural implement ofthe present invention, with the soil openers in the lowered position;

FIG. 15. is a cross-sectional side view of the agricultural implement ofthe present invention, with the soil openers in the raised position andpivotally mounted to a conventional frame.

FIG. 16. is a cross-sectional side view of the agricultural implement ofthe present inventions with the soil openers in the raised position;

FIG. 17. is a schematic of an electrical circuit for operating the airseeding apparatus of the present invention, showing all switches in theoff position;

FIG. 18. is a schematic of the electrical circuit of the meteringassembly of the present invention, showing switch 1 in the on position;

FIG. 19. is a schematic of a hydraulic circuit for operating themetering assembly of the present invention, showing all valves in the“off position;

FIG. 20. is a schematic of a hydraulic circuit for metering assembly ofthe present invention, showing valves IA and IB in the “on” position andremaining valves in the “off position;

FIG. 21. is a perspective view of a metering assembly in anotherembodiment;

FIG. 22. is a perspective view of the metering assembly of FIG. 21. on asupply source;

FIG. 23. is an exploded perspective view of the metering assembly ofFIG. 21;

FIG. 24. is a perspective view of a single supply receptacle of themetering assembly of FIG. 21. with a side removed so that the internalcomponents of the metering device can be seen;

FIG. 25. is a side view of the supply receptacle of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26. is a front view of the supply receptacle of FIG. 24; and

FIG. 27. is a perspective side view of the supply receptacle of FIG. 24.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of thepresent invention and is not intended to represent the only embodimentscontemplated by the inventor. The detailed description includes specificdetails for the purpose of providing a comprehensive understanding ofthe present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that the present invention may be practiced without thesespecific details.

The present invention, both as to its organization and manner ofoperation, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription and the drawings wherein numbers are used throughout severalviews to label like parts. Certain parts which are mentioned may beabsent in particular figures due to the view of the drawing orobstruction by other parts.

An embodiment of a metering assembly 35 of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8. The metering assembly 35 is comprised of afluted or toothed metering roller 1 for ultimate distribution ofparticulate material to an agricultural implement. The metering roller 1extends across the width of the metering assembly 35 and defines anaxis. The metering assembly 35 is divided into a number of sections andthe metering roller 1 is divided into a number of roll sections 3. Eachroll section 3 corresponds with a portion of the metering roller 1 thatextends through one of the sections. The metering roller 1 can be madeof a variety of materials and have a variety of fluted or toothedconfigurations to correspond to the various crops that may need seeding.Upon forward movement of an air seeding system 200 the metering roller 1rotates on a drive shaft 2 which causes particulate material includingseed and fertilizer to be dispensed from a supply source 5 having a seedtank 96 and a fertilizer tank 98 to dispense at a predetermined ratethrough outlets in the fertilizer metering assembly 35 a or seedmetering assembly 35 b and into distribution lines 27 (see FIG. 8) andultimately dispensed by an air distribution system 27, 15, 18 through aplurality of ground-engaging openers 3 (FIGS. 13 to 16) and into soil.Each roll section 3 of the metering roller 1 will rotate and supplyparticulate material through the section of the metering assembly 35 theroll section 3 is in.

In a field where a pie shape or long strips of land remain unseeded orunfertilized and/or are narrower than the width of theseeding/fertilizing machinery, it would be optimal to turn off part ofthe seeding/fertilizing machinery to only seed/fertilize those areasthat have not been seeded/fertilized rather than over-seed/fertilize ordouble-seed/fertilize a particular area and disturb an underlying seedbed.

One manner of accomplishing this, it to provide a plurality of gates 4installed above the metering roller 1 which are able to move in eitherforward or rearward directions. In the forward direction each gate 4prevents particulate material from being dispensed to that particularsection of the metering roller 1 and acts as a barrier preventing theparticulate material from contacting the metering roller 1. In therearward position the gates 4 allows the particulate material to accessthe metering roller 1. A plurality of these gates 4 occur along the axis33 of the metering roller 1 such that the metering roller 1 can bedivided into sections and individual gates 4 can be engaged to provide adifferent length of the air seeding system to be blocked for seeding orfertilizing purposes.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, a gate 4 is threadably connected to a firstend of a shaft 7 above the metering roller 1. The shaft 7 is slidablyattached to the internal surface of the rear and upper corner of an airseeding system hopper 5. Further, a second end of the shaft 7 isattached to an electric actuator, a hydraulic cylinder actuator, or anelectric over hydraulic meter gate actuator 80. Further, each gate 4 isslidably connected to a metal plate 26, the plate 26 being connected tothe upper, rear portion of an air seeding system hopper 5 by a varietyof means which may include but are not limited to welded, soldered orbolted. The metal plate 26 serves as a guide for the gate 4 such thatthe plate's position relative to the gate 4 correctly positions the gate4 over the metering roller 1 when engaged by the shaft 7. Further, whenengaged by the shaft 7, the gate 4 is brought forward to engage theopposite end of the air seeding system hopper 5 such that particulatematerial cannot pass between the gate and the air seeding system hopper5. When not engaged by the shaft 7, the gate 4 remains in a fixedposition slidably attached to the metal plate 26. In this position,particulate material can pass between the gate 4 and the air seedingsystem hopper 5 and through to the metering roller 1 and then todistribution lines 27. From the distribution lines 27, the particulatematerial will ultimately pass to the ground-engaging openers 3 of anagricultural implement/air seeding apparatus 200 and into the soil.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show the shaft 7 differently engaged to produce an opengate 22 or a closed gate 23 when activated. Each gate 4 is ideally madeof steel or another suitably strong metal. When in the forward (closed)position, the gate 23 completely prevents the metering roller 1 fromaccessing any particulate matter released from above the metering roller1, In FIG. 2 the gate 4 can be clearly seen in its closed position 23blocking all access of the particulate material to the metering roller1. In FIG. 4 and FIG, 6 the opened gates 22 can best be seen in which afree flow of particulate matter to the metering roller 1 can occur.

An electric switch 101 in the cab of the vehicle (not shown) pulling theair seeding apparatus 200 is connected operatively to an electricactuator, hydraulic actuator or electric over hydraulic actuator 80which is operatively connected to the second end of the shaft 7 to allowthe operator to operate the metering assembly 35 and more specificallydesignate which gates 4 are to be open and which gates 4 are to beclosed based on the operators knowledge of which soil is to beseeded/fertilized and which is to remain undisturbed. FIG. 17 shows aschematic of the electrical circuit 120 for operating the air seedingapparatus 200 of the present invention, which includes a plurality ofswitches 101, for operating corresponding electrical coils 102 whichrespectively operate corresponding hydraulic valves 202 to controlhydraulic cylinder actuator 80 and thus gates 4 on metering device 35(see FIG. 19), and such switches 101 further operate coils 104, whichcorrespondingly control hydraulic valves 112 for controlling hydrauliccylinders 12 for raising and lowering respective opener arm assemblies202 from engagement with soil.

FIG. 18 is an electrical schematic similar to FIG. 17, both figuresshowing an electrical circuit 120 for operating air seeding apparatus200 of the present invention, which includes a plurality of switches 101for operating corresponding electrical coils 102, Electrical coils 102respectively operate corresponding hydraulic valves 111 to control gates4 on the metering assembly 35 (see FIGS. 19 & 20).

Switches 101 of FIGS. 17 & 18 further and simultaneously operate coils104 which correspondingly control hydraulic valves 112 for controllinghydraulic cylinders 12 for raising and lowering respective opener armassemblies 202 from engagement with soil.

In this regard, FIG. 20 shows shank hydraulic cylinders 12 for groups ofopener arm assemblies 202 (see “towers” IA & IB) in actuated position soas to cause associated opener assemblies 202 to be in the raisedposition. Remaining hydraulic cylinders 12 for remaining shank towers2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A1 7A & 8A, and 23, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, and 8B areshown in the position to effect lowering of associated opener armassemblies 202.

In the electrical circuit 120 shown in FIG. 17, all switches 101 (eg,sw1-4) are shown in the “off” position. This causes associated hydraulicvalves 112 to open and thereby cause corresponding hydraulic actuators80 which control the metering gates 4 of the metering assemblies 35 a,35 b to actuate the gates 4 to be in the “closed” position, andcorrespondingly control hydraulic valves 112 to cause hydrauliccylinders 12 to lower the opener arm assemblies 202 to engage soil (SeeFIG. 19, and FIG. 16).

In the electrical circuit 120 shown in FIG. 18, sw1 is shown in the “on”position and the remaining switches sw 2-4 are shown in the “off’position. As seen from FIGS. 18 and 20 due to sw1 being in the “on”position, corresponding coil 102 (coil 1A) activates meter shut-offvalve 111 which correspondingly activates meter gate hydraulic actuator80, so as to close meter gate 4. Simultaneously, switch 101 (sw)activates coil 108 (coil 1B), so as to activate hydraulic valves 112(see FIG. 20) (valve 1B), which in turn operates hydraulic shankcylinders 12 for opener arm assembly 202 (shank cylinders 1A, 1B), so asto cause hydraulic shank cylinders 12 to raise opener arm assembly 202to the raised position, as shown in FIG. 15 and in position 91 on FIG.12.

While FIGS. 1-7 illustrates one embodiment of a metering assembly 35 toaccomplish the selective supplying of particulate material to an airseeder apparatus 200, the selective supplying of particulate material tothe air seeder apparatus 200 can be performed in a number of differentways. FIG. 21 illustrates a metering assembly 235 in another embodimentthat allows the selective supplying of seed or other particulatematerial to an air seeding apparatus 200. The metering assembly 235 canbe made up of a number of supply receptacles 236 as shown in FIG. 23.FIG. 22 illustrates the metering assembly 235 provided on the supplysource 5. The metering assembly 235 can selectively dispense particulatematerial from the supply source 5, by supplying the particulate materialat a desired rate to distribution lines 27 in lower portions 237 of thesupply receptacle 236 when desired, and then stop supplying/dispensingthe particulate material to the distribution lines 27 when desired. Inthis manner, the metering assembly 235 can be used to dispenseparticulate material from the supply source 5 when the air seedingapparatus 200 is in operation and then used to prevent or stopparticulate material from being dispensed to the distribution lines 27and the air seeding apparatus 200 when desired, such as, when the airseeding apparatus 200 is being turned around, the land being seeded isnarrower than the air seeding apparatus 200, the land being seeded isodd-shaped, etc. This can be done to prevent overseeding, doubleseeding, unnecessary seeding, etc. of the land.

FIG. 23 illustrates a plurality of supply receptacles 236 forming themetering assembly 235. FIGS. 24-27 illustrate a single one of thesesupply receptacles 236. Each supply receptacles 236 can have an opening203, a diverter plate 204, a roll section 201 of a metering roller 251rotating on a drive shaft 202, a primary drive shaft 208, a first drivegear 212, a clutch assembly 220, a second drive gear 214 and a lowerportion 237.

The roll section 201 can be generally cylindrical in shape and be madeof a variety of materials. The roll section 201 can be provided in thesupply receptacle 236 between the opening 203 of the metering assembly235, where particulate material is supplied to the metering assembly235, and a lower portion 237 of the supply receptacle 236, where theparticulate material will be supplied to the distribution lines 27. Theroll section 201 can rotate on the drive shaft 202, moving particulatematerial and supplying the particulate material to the lower portion 237of the supply receptacle 236 and the distribution lines 27. The rollsection 201 can also have a variety of fluted or toothed configurationsto correspond to the various crops that may need seeding. The fluting orteeth can be used to aid the roll section 201 in gripping and movingparticulate material so that it can be supplied to the lower portion 237of the supply receptacle 236 and from there to the distribution lines27.

In one aspect, a lip 205 can be provided in the supply receptacle 236.The lip 205 can be positioned within the metering assembly 235 so thatin order to supply particulate material to the lower portion 237 of thesupply receptacle 236, the roll section 201 must carry particulatematerial up and over the lip 205 before the particulate material can besupplied to the lower portion 237 of the supply receptacle 236 and thedistribution lines 27. The lip 205 can aid in preventing particulatematerial from being supplied to the distribution lines 27 when the rollsection 201 is not rotating.

The primary drive shaft 208 can be used to supply rotational motion tothe drive shaft 202 that the roll section 201 is provided on. Theprimary drive shaft 208 can be ground driven, driven by a PTO from thetowing vehicle (e.g. a tractor), etc. The primary drive shaft 208 can beoperably connected to the first drive gear 212 by the clutch assembly220 and the clutch assembly 220 can be used to selectively couple theprimary drive shaft 208 to the first drive gear 212. The second drivegear 214 can be connected to the drive shaft 202 that the roll section201 is provided on and the second drive gear 214 can be placed inengaging contact with the first drive gear 212 so that rotation of thefirst drive gear 212 will cause rotation of the second drive gear 214.

The clutch assembly 220 can be used to couple the primary drive shaft208 to the first drive gear 212 so that the rotational motion of theprimary drive shaft 208 will be transferred through the first drive gear212 and the second drive gear 214 to the drive shaft 202, causing thedrive shaft 202 and the roll section 201 to rotate. When the clutchassembly 220 is used to de-couple the primary drive shaft 208 from thefirst drive gear 212, rotational motion will no longer be transferred tothe roll section 201, the roll section 201 will stop rotating andparticulate material will stop being supplied by the roll section 201 tothe distribution lines 27.

In this manner, the clutch assembly 220 can be used to selectivelycontrol the supplying of particulate material to the distribution lines27 by the supply receptacle 236. When the clutch assembly 220 is engagedand rotational motion is transferred to the roll section 201, the supplyreceptacle 236 can selectively supply particulate material to the lowerportion 237 of the supply receptacle 236 and the distribution lines 27.However, when the clutch assembly 220 is disengaged, rotational motionwill no longer be transmitted to the roll section 201 and the rollsection 201 will stop rolling, preventing particulate material frombeing supplied to the distribution lines 27.

Although, the clutch assembly 220 is shown provided between the primarydrive shaft 208 and the first drive gear 212 in FIGS. 21-27, a personskilled in the art will appreciate that the physical location of theclutch assembly 220 could be altered, such as placing it between thedrive shaft 202 and the second drive gear 214, with the clutch assembly220 still having the same ability to selectively transmit rotationalmotion to the roll section 201, causing the roll section 201 to rotateor to stop rotating.

In one aspect, the metering assembly 235 can have a single primary driveshaft 208, while the metering roller 251 is made up a number of driveshafts 202 and coaxial roll sections 201 spaced sequentially, with aseparate drive shaft 202 and roll section 201 provided in each supplyreceptacle 236. In this manner, power can be supplied from the singleprimary drive shaft 208 to each of the separate drive shafts 202. With aclutch assembly 220 provided for each supply receptacle 236 between thesingle primary drive shaft 208 and the drive shaft 202 provided in thesupply receptacle 236, each clutch assembly 220 can be operatedseparately from the other, coupling and decoupling each drive shaft 202to the primary drive shaft 208 independently of the others, causing eachsupply receptacle 236 to selectively meter and supply particulatematerial to the air seeding apparatus 200 independently of the othersupply receptacles 236.

Alternatively, a single clutch assembly 220 could be connected to asingle drive shaft 202 passing through each of the roll sections 201 toselectively rotate all of the roll sections 201 or none of the rollsections 201.

In one embodiment the clutch assemblies 220 of the metering assembly 235can be controlled by an operator inside a cab of a tow vehicle (notshown), such as by providing switches or buttons allowing the operatorto engage and disengage the various clutch assemblies 220 as desired,starting and stopping the supply of particulate material to the airseeding apparatus 200 through the various supply receptacles 236.However, in another embodiment, the clutch assemblies 220 might becontrolled by a GNSS navigation system, such as a GPS system, thatdisengages the clutch assemblies 220 and stops the section roll 201 fromrotating when the GPS navigation system determines that the air seedingapparatus 200 is passing over fields that has already been seeded orshould not be seeded.

In operation, when a field is being seeded with the air seedingapparatus 200, particulate material is provided from the supply source 5to the metering assembly 235. The metering assembly 235 can meter anddispense the particulate material through each of the supply receptacles236 to the distribution lines 27 to be supplied to the air seedingapparatus 200 and ultimately dispensed into the soil through theground-engaging openers 3 on the air seeding apparatus 200 (FIGS. 13 to16). Particulate material entering one of the supply receptacles 236 canbe directed by the diverter plate 204 towards one side of the rollsection 201 associated with that supply receptacle 236. As the rollsection 201 rotates, the roll section 201 can move the particulatematerial and supply it to the lower portion 237 of the supply receptacle236 and to the distribution lines 27. This can continue while the airseeding apparatus 200 is being used to seed and/or fertilize a field.However, when it is no longer desirable to supply particulate material,such as seed and fertilizer, to the air seeder 200, such as when it ispassing over ground that has already been seeded, the ground it ispassing over is not supposed to be seeded, etc., the metering assembly235 can be used to selectively stop dispensing particulate material tothe air seeding apparatus 200. The operator, GPS device, etc. can send asignal to the appropriate clutch assemblies 220 causing the clutchassemblies 200 to decouple the primary drive shaft 208 from the firstgear 212 and stopping the roll sections 201 in the associated supplyreceptacles 236 from rotating. With the roll section 201 no longerrotating, particulate material will no longer be moved by the roll 201and supplied from the supply receptacle 236 to the air seeding apparatus200. When the air seeding apparatus 200 has crossed the ground andseeding of the ground is once again desired. The clutch assemblies 220that were disengaged, can once again be engaged and the meteringassembly 235 can once again be used to supply particulate material tothe distribution lines 27 and to the air seeding apparatus 200.

If it is desirably to only stop supplying particulate material to aportion of ground-engaging openers 3 on the air seeding apparatus 200,the individual supply receptacles 236 supplying particulate material tothat portion of the ground-engaging openers 3 can be prevented fromsupplying particulate material. Each of the supply receptacles 236 canbe selectively operated independently from the others, allowing some ofthe supply receptacles 236 to continue to supply particulate material tothe air seeding apparatus 200 which will dispense the particulatematerial using only some of the ground openers 3, while the other supplyreceptacles 236 are stopped from supplying particulate material to theair seeding apparatus 200. In this way, only a portion of the airseeding apparatus 200 will continue to dispense particulate materialinto the soil. This can be used when the air seeding apparatus 200 iswider than the ground to be seeded, requiring only a portion of thewidth of the air seeding apparatus 200 to be used for seeding.

FIGS. 8 to 12 shows an agricultural apparatus equipped with a seedmetering assembly 35 a and a fertilizer metering assembly 35 b. Fromeach metering assembly 35 a, 35 b, a plurality of distribution lines 27are coupled such that an individual gate 4 within a metering assembly 35a, 35 b will correspond to an individual distribution line 27. Eachdistribution line 27 is also coupled at its other end to a secondarydistribution head 74. Alternatively, seed metering assembly 35 a andfertilizer metering assembly 35 b, shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, could bereplaced with metering assemblies 235, as shown in FIGS. 21-27. A firstmetering assembly 235 could be used in place of the seed meteringassembly 35 a and a second metering assembly 235 could be used in placeof the fertilizer metering assembly 35 b. These metering assembly 235could be connected to distribution lines 27 as shown in FIGS. 21-27.

Each agricultural apparatus 200 has a plurality of secondarydistribution heads 74. Each secondary distribution head 74 has aplurality of couplings to seed hoses 82 or fertilizer hoses 84. Eachsecondary distribution head 74 is then coupled at its other end torespective seed tube/hose 18 and fertilizer hose/tube 15 (see FIG. 9).Because the secondary distribution head 74 has a plurality of couplingsto seed tube/hoses 18 or fertilizer tube/hoses 15, each gate 4 ofmetering assemblies 35 a, 35 b (or metering assemblies 235) canselectively open or close the supply of seed or fertilizer to arespective plurality of seed hoses 18 (in the case of a seed meteringassembly 35 a) and to a plurality of fertilizer tube/hoses 15 (in thecase of a fertilizer metering assembly 35 b). In FIG. 9 all of thedistribution lines (white) depict seed and fertilizer hoses 82, 84respectively open to the flow of fertilizer by a plurality of gates 4 inthe seed metering assembly 35 a, and fertilizer metering assembly 35 b,respectively. Accordingly, in FIG. 10, all of the agriculturalimplements 200 are in the lowered position to allow the soil to befertilized.

The black distribution lines in FIG. 11 depict seed hoses 82 andfertilizer hoses 84 shut-off to the flow of fertilizer by a plurality ofgates 4 in the respective metering assemblies 35 a, 35 b or by stoppingthe rotation of the roll sections 201 in metering assembly 235, and thewhite distribution lines depict seed hoses 82 and fertilizer hoses 84open to the flow of seed and fertilizer by a plurality of gates 4 in therespective seed and fertilizer metering assemblies 35 a, 35 b or byallowing the section rolls 201 to rotate in the metering assemblies 235.As such, a plurality of opener arm assemblies 202 will have seed andfertilizer distributed to them and a plurality of opener arm assemblies202 will not have fertilizer or seed distributed to them.

FIG. 12 depicts a group of opener arm assemblies 202 in the raisedposition 93 so that they do not disturb the soil. Fertilizer hoses 84and associated fertilizer tubes/hoses 15, and likewise seed hoses 82 andcorresponding seed hoses/tubes 18, all associated with the opener armassemblies 202 which are in the raised position 93, are closed to theflow of seed/fertilizer. Other opener arm assemblies 202 are shown inthe lowered position 93, and the associated fertilizer tubes/hoses 15and seed tube/hoses 18 are provided with fertilizer and seed to permitoperation of the remaining operable opener arm assemblies 202 shown inlowered position 93.

Further, in another embodiment a GNSS (Global Navigation SatelliteSystem) such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) (not shown) isemployed to automatically engage the electric actuator, hydraulicactuator, or electric over hydraulic cylinder actuator 80 and shaft 7 toclose or open the gates 4 into a forward or rearward position, (or theclutch assemblies 220 if sectional metering assemblies 235 are used)based on previous data determining where the seed or fertilizer has beenpreviously deposited in the soil, to ensure that doubleseeding/fertilizing or over seeding/fertilizer does not occur.

In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, as seen in FIGS. 13 to 16 anagricultural implement 200 consists of an opener arm 11 pivotallymounted at pivot joint 6 to a cross-member 9 which is fixedly mounted toa conventional frame 92, The conventional frame 92 is operativelyconnected to a plurality of ground-engaging wheels 94. The opener armmounting bracket 10 is fixedly mounted via cross-member 9 toconventional frame 92. Hydraulically extendable arm 45, containing abiasing hydraulic ram 12, is pivotably coupled at one end 8 thereof toopener arm mounting bracket 10, at another end 20 to seed opener arm 31,such that the biasing hydraulic ram 12 rests substantially parallel andbelow the opener arm 11, as shown in FIG. 16. First mounting member 31is pivotably connected to opener arm 11 at pivotal joint 21, such thatmounting member 31 is below and roughly perpendicular in the operating(soil engaging) position to opener arm 11. Hydraulic ram 12 may beextended to cause mounting member 31 to pivot rearwardly, and upon beingso pivoted to contact opener arm 11, to cause opener arm 11 to pivotabout pivot joint 6 so as to become raised, thereby raising the openerarm 11, packer wheel 19, first mounting member 31 (hereinaftercollectively the opener arm assembly 202) from engagement with theground.

First mounting bracket 31 is fixedly connected to the first deliverysystem mounting member 13. The first delivery system mounting member 13contains the first cutting knife 14 as well as the first product (e.g.fertilizer) delivery hose/tube 15 (usually for delivering fertilizer)behind the first cutting knife 14. Distal to the first delivery systemmounting member 13 is a second delivery system mounting member 16connected below and to a second mounting member 32. The second mountingmember 32 is fixedly connected at point 24 to a mounting arm extension29. A pin 33 and plurality of bolts 34 also adjustably connects thesecond mounting member 32 to opener arm U. The pin and plurality ofholes allow for vertical adjustment of the second delivery systemmounting member 16. The second delivery system mounting member 16 isgenerally perpendicular to opener arm 11. The mounting arm extension 29is rigidly connected to the opener arm 11 with two fixed bolts 30. Thesecond delivery system contains a second cutting knife 17 as well as asecond product (e.g. seed) delivery tube/hose 18 (usually for deliveringseed) behind the second cutting knife 17. Both first and second deliverysystem members 13, 16, respectively, are collectively referred to asground-engaging openers 3. A linked chain 25 connects the first andsecond ground-engaging openers 3 and limits the forward movement of thefirst ground-engaging opener.

A ground-engaging packer wheel 19 is connected to the distal end of thesecond mounting bracket 32. The packer wheel 19 follows the two deliverysystem mounting members 13, 16 and allows for packing of soil above thematerial which has been inserted in furrows created in the soil. Thebiasing hydraulic ram 12 is pivotally connected to both the framemounting member 10 as well as the first mounting bracket 31 to be ableto engage the first delivery system mounting member 13. When thehydraulic ram 12 is extended, the upper edge of the first deliverysystem mounting member 13 engages the front edge 28 of the mounting armextension 29. The mounting arm extension 29 is then raised, thus raisingthe attached second delivery system mounting member 16, second pivotbracket 32 and packer wheel 19. The front edge 28 of the mounting armextension 29 is sufficiently thick to support the weight of the seconddelivery system mounting member 16 as well as the second pivot bracket32 and wheel 19 in a raised position for transport purposes. Reversingthe hydraulic ram 12 by activating hydraulic shank valves 212 causes thecorresponding opener arm assembly 202 to be lowered.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrates the agricultural implement 200 having theopener arm assemblies 202 in the raised position for transport. Thisallows for the agricultural implement 200 to be driven over a field thathas been previously seeded without disturbing the seed bed. The biasinghydraulic ram 12 is controlled by a plurality of electric and/orhydraulic valves 112 (see FIGS. 19 & 20). This allows the operator toselectively raise either a single or multiple opener arm assemblies 202from the cab of the vehicle.

The agricultural implement 200 of the present invention is alsocontemplated as being configured such that it comprises only a pluralityof single ground-engaging openers 3 and corresponding product deliveryhose/tubes 18 and cutting knives 17 such that the agricultural implement200 only delivers seed or fertilizer.

In another important refinement of the present invention, a GNSS (globalnavigate satellite system) control system, such as a GPS control system,(not shown) is provided to automatically control the opening and closingof the gates 4 of the metering assemblies 35 a, 35 b or the engagementor disengagement of the clutch assembly 220 in the metering assemblies235, as well as the raising and lowering of the opener arm assemblies202 for the agricultural implement 200 of the present invention.

Specifically, such GNSS control system allows automatic control of notonly coils 102 for controlling the meter valves 111 which in turnactuate/control hydraulic cylinder actuators 80 and thus associatedgates 4 on metering assemblies 35 a, 35 b (or control thecoupling/de-coupling of the clutch assemblies 220 of the meteringassemblies 235, if metering assemblies 235 are used), but as wellcontrols coils 104 for shank hydraulic valves 112, which in turn controlthe biasing hydraulic rams 12 on the opener arm assemblies 202 to raiseselected opener arm assemblies 202 for areas that are mapped using theGPS system and known to already have be seeded, to thus preventdisturbing an already-planted seed bed. (see FIG. 19 and FIG. 20herein).

In this regard, at least one GPS control system of the prior art may bespecially adapted for the purpose of the present invention, namely theAutoSPRAY™ 7500 model controller manufactured by Rinex Corporation ofSouth Perth, Western Australia (www.rinex.com.au/autosDrav.coin).

Specifically, the AutoSPRAY™ 7500 model controller and associated GPSreceiver has been used in the prior art for controlling spray nozzles ofagricultural sprayers (such as that depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,019manufactured by Case Corporation (now Case/New Holland), used to applyherbicide or liquid fertilizer to crops.

In the manner that a GPS receiver of the prior art has been used toprovide data and input to the prior art AutoSPRAY 7500 model controller,which in turn de-activates spray nozzles 22 located on booms 28, 30 ofthe device as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,019, where the GPS controllerdetermines that portions of the crop have already been sprayed andactivates solenoids to control (eg close) spray nozzles on booms 28, 30to avoid “double-application” of herbicide, a GPS receiver and GPScontroller such as the AutoSPRAY 7500 model controller may by used forthe purposes of the present invention to control coils 102 which in turncontrol associated hydraulic cylinder actuators 111 which in turncontrol individual gates 4 on metering assemblies 35 a, 35 b, as wellsimultaneously control coils 104 is used to control hydraulic valves H2and thereby control/actuate hydraulic ram cylinders 12 to effectappropriate raising of opener arm assemblies 202 when desired.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to those embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to beaccorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference toan element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” isnot intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated,but rather “one or more”. All structural and functional equivalents tothe elements of the various embodiments described throughout thedisclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinaryskill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the elements of theclaims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicatedto the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitlyrecited in the claims.

1. A method for selectively supplying a particulate material, namely,seed, fertilizer, or seed and fertilizer, to an air seeding apparatusfor dispensing the particulate material to soil to avoid over-seeding orover-fertilizing of a previously seeded or fertilized area, the methodcomprising: feeding particulate material to a material metering meanshaving a metering roller, said material metering means operable formetering and supplying the particulate material to the air seedingapparatus; stopping the material metering means from supplying a portionof the particulate material, said portion of the particulate materialcorresponding to said previously seeded or fertilized area, when the airseeding apparatus is traveling over the previously seeded or fertilizedarea; and when the air seeder is no longer traveling over the previouslyseeded or fertilized area, allowing the material metering means to onceagain supply the portion of the particulate material to the air seedingapparatus.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion ofparticulate material is less than the total amount of the particulatematerial capable of being metered by the material metering means to theair seeding apparatus.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, whereby thematerial metering means is stopped from supplying the portion of theparticulate material to the air seeding apparatus by means of at leastone gate, said at least one gate having an open position allowing theportion of particulate material to be dispensed and a closed positionstopping the portion of particulate material from being dispensed. 4.The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metering roller comprisesa plurality of roll sections, whereby the material metering means isstopped from supplying the portion of the particulate material to theair seeding apparatus by stopping the rotation of a number of rollsections which sections would have ordinarily metered the portion ofparticulate material.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein therotation of the roll sections is stopped by means of at least one clutchassembly, said at least one clutch assembly operative to transmitrotational motion to the metering roller and the roll sections causingthe roll sections to rotate and meter particulate material and toselectively stop transmitting rotational motion to the roll sectionscausing the roll sections to stop rotating and preventing the portion ofthe particulate material to be metered to the air seeding apparatus. 6.The method as claimed in claim 1, whereby the portion of particulatematerial is stopped in response to input from said GPS or GNSS satellitenavigation system as a result of having determined the previously seededor fertilized area.